Alejandro Reyes is being tipped to be a future star of Californianboxing .- The 22-year-old's coach
Jose Saucedo compared the puncher to Vergil Ortiz Jr.
LOS ANGELES — Some of the toughest sparring sessions on the planet take place in Southern California.
Gyms like Westside Boxing Club in Los Angeles continually play host to some of the world's top fighters, who walk through the doors to pound their heavy bags, rattle their speed bag, and test their skills against other fighters renowned for their grit, heart, and punching prowess.
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez first walked through Westside's doors when he was baby-faced, shy, and years away from becoming the pound-for-pound king of the fight game.
Two of the gym's coaches, the Saucedo brothers, Jose and Nacho, are rarely far from the ring, watching over the action that takes place within, and offering guidance and advice through grueling sessions.
It seemed like a perfect place to visit to try and learn more about the California youngsters currently being prepared for boxing stardom.
Sitting on a stool at the back of the gym, Jose Saucedo, one of California's best coaches, told Insider that "there's a lot of talent here" in the state.
But when it comes to who are the ones to really watch, he says with a smile that, of course, he's going to list fighters that he trains.
"I got this one guy," he tells us. "He's been fighting on Golden Boy cards the whole time, on DAZN. He's a good fighter, and reminds me a lot of Vergil Ortiz Jr," one of boxing's power punchers.
Saucedo points at Alejandro Reyes, who bares his fists by the edge of the ring. Reyes has a pro boxing record of six wins (four knockouts) and remains unbeaten. He fights his seventh bout Saturday at the Galen Center in the city.
"I don't like to compare them too much, but every punch Alejandro throws he throws with bad intentions."
This young knockout puncher likes to model part of his game on Canelo's
Ortiz was forced to withdraw from headlining Saturday's event, broadcast on DAZN from 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET because he spent Monday night in hospital with rhabdomyolysis.
Reyes, being an apparent Ortiz clone, could provide a highlight-reel knockout in the contender's absence.
But though he's compared by Saucedo to the puncher, Reyes himself models his game on the professionalism and dedication of 'Canelo' Alvarez.
"I like how Canelo boxes," Reyes told Insider on Thursday at Golden Boy headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. "He boxes beautifully. He can slip, fight on the inside, and go at it, too. I like his style, his craft is perfect."
Reyes grew up watching fighters his father recommended, before becoming beguiled by modern-day Mexican greats like Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.
Canelo is today's Mexican great. But it's not just because of what he's accomplishing in the ring, seemingly set on clearing out four of boxing's weight classes, it's that he's inspiring the new generation.
"His technique sets him apart," Reyes told us. "That's it. He can change, box you, catch, slip, and roll the punches. He can do it all. I'm impressed with his technique, as his craft is basically almost perfect."
Technical skill is something that can be fine-tuned through hours spent in the gym, which is what Reyes wants to do himself.
"Everything is in the gym," he said. "Whatever you do in the gym is going to show in the ring. And he does a great job in the gym."
So, what is Reyes learning from Saucedo at the Westside gym? Well, it's not just about the best, most effective ways of separating an opponent from their senses.
It's about the transitions from amateur boxing to professional and protecting yourself at all times.
"He's been introducing me to what the whole professional ball game is, the adjustments you have to make from an amateur to a professional. He's been showing me the tricks, the ropes, and it's been going good."
The No.1 trick: "Keep your hands up at all times," Reyes said, as Saucedo nodded in approval. "Always," he adds.
As for what Reyes wants to get out of his year in boxing in 2022, and ahead in 2023, it's not about making random call-outs to those in the super lightweight division.
It's about doing what Canelo would be doing — striving for self-improvement.
"The main thing to always keep improving and learning," he said. "We've been talking about Canelo — and what would he do? He'd keep learning his craft in the gym, and getting better. So that's what we gotta do to get better every day."
Reyes fights Saturday against Daniel Evangelista Jr. during the Golden Boy Promotions show at the Galen Center in Los Angeles in an event broadcast on DAZN.